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A federal 
class action lawsuit claims that 2005 to 2011 Toyota Scion xB and tC models are plagued with a design defect that causes their rear hatch door handles and panels to break off during normal use. Toyota has allegedly known about the Scion’s defective door handle since 2007, but has failed to disclose it to customers and refuses to recall the vehicles to repair the defect, the class action lawsuit says.
According to the Toyota Scion class action lawsuit, “Toyota knew or should have known that the Class Vehicles are defective, not fit for their intended purpose and unsafe when they are driven within their normal and/or expected range of operation. Nevertheless, Toyota has actively concealed and failed to disclose the Defect to Plaintiffs and the Class Members, both prior to and after the time of purchase.”
The Scion class action lawsuit says that when the defective door handles break, “consumers have been, and will continue to be, forced to deal with an unsafe and illegal situation. First, when the Defective Door Handle breaks, consumers are regularly unable to open their back door, either from the outside or the inside… In addition, the holes left in the rear hatch when the handle breaks allow exhaust fumes to enter into the Vehicle, further creating a safety hazard.”
The Scion class action lawsuit goes on to say that Toyota’s refusal to remedy the problem has forced many consumers to tape or glue the defective Scion door handles bank on their vehicles or purchase expensive replacement parts.
“Indeed, driving around any metropolitan area, it is not uncommon to see numerous [Scion xB and tC models] with the door opening mechanism missing or fastened to the Vehicles via a homemade remedy. Moreover, as a result of Toyota’s abject failure to manufacture and sell a Vehicle that could withstand the routine and normal opening and closing of the rear hatch without breaking, and is concomitant refusal to provide relief to its customers, the Defect has spawned a cottage industry, with third-parties manufacturing parts to try to fill Toyota’s void,” the class action lawsuit says.
The Toyota Scion defective door handle class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of all current and former owners and lessees of a model year 2005-2011 Toyota Scion tC or xB models purchased or leased in the United States. It is seeking damages, interest, restitution and more.
A copy of the Toyota Scion tC and xB Defective Door Handle Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.
The case is Salvatore Amata, et al., v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and Toyota Motor Corporation, Case No. EDCV12-168-VAP (SPx), U.S. District Court, Central District of California
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101 thoughts onToyota Scion Defective Door Handle Class Action Lawsuit
Your gonna love this one I went in to have the third brake light fixed and one week later the back hatch would not operate went back in to dealer and they said it was broken and would be 600+ to fix it correctly. They never mentioned this lawsuit or that there were anyone else having this issue. Crooks
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Here is a quick fix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8injS-AFaoc&feature=youtu.be
Any word on the pending lawsuit?? I’m so tired of ductaping my handle on every time it falls off.. and there is no way i’m going to pay $300 for another handle with those CHEAP PLASTIC brackets! It’s so embarrassing and I can’t even use my trunk anymore.
My wife and I have a 2005. The handle broke just like everyone else when she went to lift the latch. She is a small lady and in no way a significantly strong person. We then got pulled over in Maryland for having the lights normally situated inside the hatch exposed. They shone as a “Gleaming Sparkle above the license plate” according to the officer. And the price to be paid for this incapable piece of plastic? Are you kidding me? Charge me this much when it will actually do what it’s made to do, then I’ll buy it out of my own pocket to keep from having to deal with company.
My 2007 Scion tC just had this issue and I would like to know how to become involved in getting Toyota to fix this problem.
Here is the link for the class action law suit:
http://www.sfmslaw.com/class-action-lawsuits/cases.php?id=1180
Here is the link for petition to recall:
http://www.change.org/petitions/scion-recall-defective-scion-trunk-hatch-handles
Visit Facebook: Scion tC and XB defective hatch handles
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I went to the Toyota Dealer where I purchased my Scion TC and told the service desk this was a defect after seeing every other TC on the highway with missing hatch or taped hatch. I was told that manufacture does not consider a defect and they would allow me to purchase part for half off…which would be $285.00 for part and labor!!!! This is not fair since the hatch broke soon after I purchased vehicle.
How do I become part of this lawsuit? My 2007 scion tc has a broken hatch door. It is costing me $130 PLUS installation to fix this problem that toyota has known about since 2007! Ridiculous!
This calls don’t need 2 be on the road. I just saw 1 where hatch broke n frame broke into n a wreck n non not 1 single airbag went off, most car frames don’t break in wrecks, this 1 did, who is making theese cars?